Coehorn Mortars

The Coehorn Mortar Models of 1838 and 1841, were used by both sides during the Civil War. The weapon was named after a Dutch engineer, Baron van Menno Coehoorn (with two ‘o’s). The good baron, a Dutchman by way of Sweden is a little known military engineer of the 17th century. During the Anglo-Dutch Wars, he perfected a small mortar that was influential in the reduction of the French forces during the Siege of Grave in 1674.This device was later used across most western militaries in its basic design over the next two hundred years. Baron Coehoorn later bested even the great Marshal Vauban himself at Namur. Incidentally most new world forts including the key Third Period forts of the US Civil War, such as Forts Morgan, St Phillip, Sumter and others, were based on Marshal Vauban's designs and theory.

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